The RAND option should not be applied to W3C standards. The work that
W3C has done is real and substantial. However, a standard is more than
just a product - it is a point of common undestanding that can used for
work that comes later. A good standard becomes a focus of effort.
The RAND option would exclude some would-be implementors. But worse, it
would dilute the focusing affect of the standard. I believe
royalty-free
licensing will serve the community much better. If member companies
feel they must create a revenue stream from W3C standards, let them do
it outside of the official W3C organization and attach fees to the
implementing programs; not to patents.
-Steven Pothier-